As a child I loved to play with words. Whether in song or speech, words could always catch my imagination. Looking back, I have discovered how much those wordplays influenced my mood and my joy. Antidisestablishmentarianism made me feel smart. Spelling Mississippi – rollercoaster, dotted letter, crooked letter, crooked letter, dotted letter, crooked letter, crooked letter, dotted letter, humpback, humpback, dotted letter made me giggle. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, one of my favorites, means extraordinarily good and it gave me hope.
I often sang the wordplay songs of Roger Miller, singer-songwriter from the 1960’s Nashville sound era and imagined the details of every story. As you know, “you can’t roller skate in a buffalo herd, but you can be happy if you’ve a mind to” has rolled off the lips of many people.
When Disney released the song of a happy bear enjoying “the bare necessities” of life, it influence my mindset away from greed and toward contentment. “Zip-a-dee-doo-dah” from the 1946 movie, “Song of the South” gave me a declaration to sing – it would be a wonderful day with plenty of sunshine heading my way! I could go on and on about positive, fun lyrics, from every music genre, that have settled in my brain through the years. Sometimes when I am discouraged, a memory will float across my mind, I’ll smile and begin “it’s a beautiful morning, I think I’ll go outside for a while, just to smile.”
You might be wondering what all this has to do with faith and values. I submit to you, “a lot”. Our words are spiritual and emotional containers. They hold ideas that direct and influence our actions and establish our mindsets. Please let me share a few scriptures to confirm this.
Luke 6:45 NKJV, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” NLT says it this way, “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.” Your words come from the container, treasure, depository of your heart. If you are making negative, caustic deposits then you will speak and live by those deposits.
Philippians 4:8 NKJV, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” NLT says it this way, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” We are challenged to think on positive, true, encouraging words. Fill you mind and heart with good things.
Matthew 12:336-38 NKJV, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words, you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” NLT says it this way, “And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.” We must practice words of faith and wholeness so the accounting will be easy.
Don’t be afraid to walk out of step with the world. Your walk with the positive principles and concepts of the word of God will produce a great life. Will everything be perfect? No, but you will have the grace and courage to walk victoriously through the trials into the peace of God. As the scripture said, “Fix your thoughts on what is true”, not temporary. There are many hymns and modern anthems that will purge the old dread from your heart and words and replace it with words of life. Decide today to change the way you describe your life, then watch your life begin to change to meet your new standards. Hope, joy, peace and contentment will become your new song!
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